title: Citrullus colocynthis as the Cause of Acute Rectorrhagia.
abstract: Introduction. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a commonly used medicinal plant especially as a hypoglycemic agent. Case Presentation. Four patients with colocynth intoxication are presented. The main clinical feature was acute rectorrhagia preceeded by mucosal diarrhea with tenesmus, which gradually progressed to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia within 3 to 4 hours. The only colonoscopic observation was mucosal erosion which was completely resolved in follow-up colonoscopy after 14 days. Conclusion. The membranolytic activity of some C. colocynthis ingredients is responsible for the intestinal damage. Patients and herbalists should be acquainted with the proper use and side effects of the herb. Clinicians should also be aware of C. colocynthis as a probable cause of lower GI bleeding in patients with no other suggestive history, especially diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Department, Baghiyatallah Hospital, Baghiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Mulla Sadra, Vanak, Tehran 14758 15943, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Javadzadeh
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.forename: Farnoush
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valizadegan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: Sadrollah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ghane
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faraji